Minnesota Veterinary Hospital Blog

Our pets are with us for such a short time that it only makes sense to do everything we can to keep them happy, healthy, and comfortable. This includes staying current with their vaccination schedule. Immunizations protect your pet from developing disabling or even fatal diseases. Because the anti-vaccine movement now includes pets, a lot of misinformation about the necessity and safety of routine vaccinations persist.

At Minnesota Veterinary Hospital, we offer both core and non-core vaccinations for cats and vaccinations for dogs. Core vaccines are those that are essential to prevent highly contagious or deadly diseases. In some cases, such as the rabies vaccine, they are required by law. Non-core vaccines provide protection against illnesses and conditions your pet may pick up due to her day-to-day lifestyle and the risk factors it poses for her. We make recommendations on non-core vaccines according to the age, breed, overall health, and other characteristics unique to your pet.

It’s July, which means that we are officially in the dog days of summer. This phrase refers to the hottest and most humid days of summer that typically occur in July and August. Both people and animals can suffer from heat-related illnesses at this time of year. Unfortunately, heatstroke is common in pets and has a fatality rate of approximately 50 percent. That’s why it’s so important to educate yourself about heatstroke prevention as well as its symptoms and treatment options.

Dogs, and some cats, love spending time outside in the warm weather. What's not to love when there are new areas to explore and holes to dig? Your pet isn't aware of the many parasites that lurk in the grass and on other animals that would love to feast on his fur and inside of his body. Fortunately, you can do several things as a pet owner to prevent these annoying critters from putting a damper on summer fun.